The University of New Orleans is exploring development of a master’s degree in transportation planning that could be a boon to state economic development.The University of New Orleans administration continues working daily to expand our enrollment. We are adding new programs and making changes to existing programs to meet evolving industry needs in the greater New Orleans area and around Louisiana and provide our students a premier university education.

A potential advancement now under exploration by the University and the Merritt C. Becker, Jr. UNO Transportation Institute is a master’s degree aimed at students who want to join the transportation industry as planners of highways, trucking and rail systems. John Renne, associate professor of planning and urban studies and director of the institute, is helping to lead the way. He is a highly respected and leading transportation expert who will help us to develop the program we want and need.

We’re responding to the industry around us and hoping to take advantage of the soon-to-be-new demand to help us get more high-caliber graduate students. We should be doing that. We’re not only a state university ― we’re a state university of the state’s largest city. We serve as a gateway to area employment and provide a major influence on regional planning, development, technology and engineering. We should be responding to local industry needs to help our students, the city and the state.